Sale, Parker square off in Chicago

Former first-round draft pick Chris Sale tries to restart a win streak on Friday night when the Chicago White Sox host the Oakland Athletics in the second test of a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Sale, a product of NCAA basketball phenomenon Florida Gulf Coast University, was selected by the White Sox with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 and burst into the spotlight with a 17-8 record last season as a starter.

He was 1-2 after his initial four outings this season, but then won four straight decisions over a five start stretch that ran from April 25 through May 17.

Sale allowed just five runs in the five games, including a complete-game one- hitter against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 12, followed by 7 2/3 innings of three-hit scoreless ball against the Halos five days later.

The streak ended on June 2 against the Athletics, who managed a single run on four hits off Sale in six innings, but nonetheless escaped with a 2-0 victory in Oakland.

Sale is 2-1 in eight meetings with Oakland with a 3.24 earned run average in 25 innings.

Dan Straily started for Oakland and gave up four runs on six hits in seven innings. Jerry Blevins (5-0) earned the win after striking out Tyler Flowers to end the bottom of the ninth with a runner on second.

The Athletics swept three games from the White Sox in Oakland during a series from May 31 to June 2.